Tuesday, June 10, 2003
By JEFFREY EARL WARREN
After reading the last two editorials on the stream setback controversy, I'm amazed at how the Register has missed the story.
It is not an exaggeration to say this is the biggest political story in Napa County since the passage of the Ag Preserve in 1967.
I may be wrong, but I can't remember a referendum that made the ballot in the last half century. Some 6,800 people felt strongly enough to put it on the ballot.
That isn't news?
More important, why is the Register using such pejorative words and phrases to describe the petition signers? "Upstart property rights group" ... "fringe groups (which) dictate," and "extremists."
Before the Register attacks these fine people, maybe it should have done a little research.
On that petition, you will find some of the most well known winery owners and growers in the Valley. More important than "big" names, you will find the names of the finest, most decent people in the country. I've known many of them all my life.
They're not famous; not dot commers; not multi-millionaires; just simple people. Some farm, so don't. They live in Conn Valley, Pope Valley, Wooden Valley, up Kortum Canyon, on Mt. Veeder, Spring Mountain, along Dry Creek out Crystal Springs Road -- yes, even the subdivisions of Napa, St. Helena, Yountville, and Calistoga.
They are great stewards of the land. They cut back grass and small trees for fire protection in the summer, and unclog creeks to prevent flooding in the winter. They are not the problem. They are the solution.
They love the Valley and are generally anti-development. Most can name the flora and fauna which surround their homes. They're comfortable with the coyotes, skunks, rabbits, deer, squirrels and birds which share their homes and land. These are good people. When almost 700 of them showed up at the supervisors' meeting, I felt like I was the kid. Most were older. Most of the men were war veterans. More than one widow stood tall and marched to the podium. Never was I in better company.
These folks follow the rules. They are not troublemakers, nor radicals. How can the Register and the supervisors miss this? These are the most law-abiding citizens you will ever meet. They just want to be able to drill a well, add an extra room, put up a basketball hoop, fix a road, or plant some grapes on the land they own.
They can't understand why the Register can support re-development right on the Napa River (where thousands of tons of concrete will be poured) but doesn't want a well dug 150 feet from a dried up creek in Conn Valley. It appears hypocritical.
They don't understand the hypocrisy of the media not reporting on Peter Mennen trying to sell a $700,000 vacant lot right on Sulphur Creek in St. Helena, while he lobbies for rural people to have 150-foot set backs -- and finances lawsuits against farmers? City people bullying rural people. Is that right? Why isn't that news?
Also, if the Farm Bureau leadership supports the ordinance (it seems unclear whether they do or don't), then why did so many farmers sign that petition?
If the vintner leadership supports the ordinance, why did so many vintners sign the petition?
If the Sierra Club leadership supports the ordinance, why did so many members of the Sierra Club sign the petition?
The Ag Coalition, all friends and neighbors, is trying to do the best they can to preserve agriculture. We all support that.
They're afraid if they don't do something the Malan initiative will pass and kill agriculture in the Valley.
But bad law is not the way to fight the Malan initiative. Picking on the little guy is never right. The Ag Coalition should join the Land Stewards in fighting the Malan initiative.
"Polls" tell the Ag Coalition that Napans don't like farmers and will vote to restrict their property rights? Don't believe it.
Fair-minded people won't pick on rural people.
Once anyone understands the issues, it's obvious that hurting people who live along seasonal creeks, or watersheds that don't even flow into the Napa River, will do nothing to help salmon, nor improve the river.
Watch. The good people of the City of Napa will join with the rural people to defeat burdensome government regulation. They will do the right thing.
What is fascinating is how some local politicians and the local media underestimate their own neighbors.
Good people live here.
Any who owns a home -- or wants to some day, will vote to protect the property rights of their neighbors come next March. I grew up here. I trust my neighbors. I'm perplexed by the Register.
(Warren lives in St. Helena.)
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